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Quiescent volcanoes dissipate a large part of their thermal energy through hot soils and ground degassing mainly in restricted areas called Diffuse Degassing Structures. La Solfatara crater represents the main spot of thermal release for the Campi Flegrei volcano (Italy) despite its reduced dimensions with regards to the whole caldera. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to measure thermal energy release extrapolating it from the ground surface temperature. We used imaging from thermal cameras at short distances (1 m) to obtain a mapping of areas with thermal anomalies and a measure of their temperatures. We built a conceptual model of the energy release from the ground to atmosphere, which well fits the experimental data taken in the La Solfatara crater. Using our model and data, we could estimate the average heat flux in a portion of the crater as q a v g = 220 ± 40 W / m 2 , compatible with other measurements in literature.

A set of analogue models has been carried out to understand the role of an asymmetric magma chamber on the resurgence-related deformation of a previously deformed crustal sector. The results are then compared with those of similar experiments, previously performed using a symmetric magma chamber. Two lines of experiments were performed to simulate resurgence in an area with a simple graben-like structure and resurgence in a caldera that collapsed within the previously generated graben-like structure. On the basis of commonly accepted scaling laws, we used dry-quartz sand to simulate the brittle behaviour of the crust and Newtonian silicone to simulate the ductile behaviour of the intruding magma. An asymmetric shape of the magma chamber was simulated by moulding the upper surface of the silicone. The resulting empty space was then filled with sand. The results of the asymmetric-resurgence experiments are similar to those obtained with symmetrically shaped silicone. In the sample with a simple graben-like structure, resurgence occurs through the formation of a discrete number of differentially displaced blocks. The most uplifted portion of the deformed depression floor is affected by newly formed, high-angle, inward-dipping reverse ring-faults. The least uplifted portion of the caldera is affected by normal faults with similar orientation, either newly formed or resulting from reactivation of the pre-existing graben faults. This asymmetric block resurgence is also observed in experiments performed with a previous caldera collapse. In this case, the caldera-collapse-related reverse ring-fault is completely erased along the shortened side, and enhances the effect of the extensional faults on the opposite side, so facilitating the intrusion of the silicone. The most uplifted sector, due to an asymmetrically shaped intrusion, is always in correspondence of the thickest overburden. These results suggest that the stress field induced by resurgence is likely dictated by the geometry of the intruding magma body, and the related deformation is partially controlled by pre-existing tectonic and/or volcano-tectonic structures.

Ischia is an active volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples whose history has been dominated by a caldera-forming eruption (ca. 55 ka) and resurgence phenomena that have affected the caldera floor and generated a net uplift of about 900 m since 33 ka. The results of new geomorphological, stratigraphical and textural investigations of the products of gravitational movements triggered by volcano-tectonic events have been combined with the information arising from a reinterpretation of historical chronicles on natural phenomena such as earthquakes, ground deformation, gravitational movements and volcanic eruptions. The combined interpretation of all these data shows that gravitational movements, coeval to volcanic activity and uplift events related to the long-lasting resurgence, have affected the highly fractured marginal portions of the most uplifted Mt. Epomeo blocks. Such movements, mostly occurring since 3 ka, include debris avalanches; large debris flows (lahars); smaller mass movements (rock falls, slumps, debris and rock slides, and small debris flows); and deep-seated gravitational slope deformation. The occurrence of submarine deposits linked with subaerial deposits of the most voluminous mass movements clearly shows that the debris avalanches impacted on the sea. The obtained results corroborate the hypothesis that the behaviour of the Ischia volcano is based on an intimate interplay among magmatism, resurgence dynamics, fault generation, seismicity, slope oversteepening and instability, and eruptions. They also highlight that volcano-tectonically triggered mass movements are a potentially hazardous phenomena that have to be taken into account in any attempt to assess volcanic and related hazards at Ischia. Furthermore, the largest mass movements could also flow into the sea, generating tsunami waves that could impact on the island’s coast as well as on the neighbouring and densely inhabited coast of the Neapolitan area.

The results of a detailed stratigraphic study, carried out in the areas located to the east and south-west of Mt. Epomeo at Ischia, are presented and compared with those of previous geological, archaeological and historical investigations to show the relationships among caldera resurgence, volcanism and slope instability in the past 5.5 ka. Resurgence at Ischia began at about 30 ka B.P. and occurred through intermittent uplifting and tectonic quietness phases. During the past 5.5 ka reactivation of faults and related volcanic activity was accompanied by emplacement of deposits generated by surface gravitational movements. These deposits were generated in four main phases, dated between 5.5 and 2.9 ka, around 2.9 ka, between 2.6 and 2.3 ka, and between 2.3 and 1.9 ka, respectively. Deposits formed by gravitational movements preceded and followed the emplacement of volcanic rocks, testifying that slope instability was induced by vertical movements, which also activated and/or reactivated faults and fractures that fed volcanism. The results of this study therefore suggest that, although slope failure can occur as a consequence of a variety of factors, resurgence has to be considered a factor inducing a particularly intense slope instability. Resurgence is accompanied by activation of faults and renewal of volcanism, causing oversteepening of the slopes and generating seismicity that could trigger surface gravitational movements. Furthermore, the availability of large amount of loose material, rapidly accumulated along the slopes during eruptions, favors landslide generation.

Ischia is the emergent top of a large volcanic complex that rises more than 1,000 m above the sea floor, at the north-western end of the Gulf of Naples. Caldera resurgence in the central part of the island has resulted in the formation of differentially displaced blocks, among which Mt. Epomeo (787 m a.s.l.) is the most uplifted. Deformation and slope instability have been recognised as common features induced by a block resurgence mechanism that causes uplift and favours gravitational loading and flank failure. The Monte Nuovo block, a topographic high on the north-western flank of Mt. Epomeo, has recently been interpreted as a block affected by deep-seated gravitational slope deformation. This block may undergo a catastrophic failure in the case of renewal of magmatic activity. This paper investigates the potential failure of the Monte Nuovo block as a rockslide-debris avalanche, the consequent tsunami generation and wave propagation, and discusses the catastrophic effects of such an event. Mobilization-prone volume has been estimated at about 160·106 m3 and would move from a maximum elevation of 400 m a.s.l. The landslide itself would sweep away a densely populated territory as large as 3.5 km2. The highest waves generated by the tsunami, on which this paper is mainly focussed, would hit the northern and western shores of Ischia. However, the high coast would prevent inundation and limit devastation to beaches, harbours and surrounding areas. Most of the tsunami energy would head towards the north-east, hitting the Campania coast. Severe inundation would affect an area of up to 20 km2 around the mouth of the Volturno river, including the urban area of Castel Volturno. In contrast, less energy would travel towards the south, and the Gulf of Naples would be perturbed by long persisting waves of limited damaging potential.

The Agnano–Monte Spina tephra (AMST), dated at 4100 years BP by 40 Ar / 39 Ar and 14 C AMS techniques, is the product of the highest-magnitude eruption in the Campi Flegrei caldera (CFc) during its last epoch of activity (4800–3800 years BP). The sequence alternates magmatic and phreatomagmatic pyroclastic-fallout, -flow and -surge beds and bedsets. Two main pumice-fallout deposits with variable easterly-to-northeasterly dispersal axes are about 10 cm thick at 42 km from the vent area. High particle concentration pyroclastic currents were confined to the caldera depression; lower concentration flows overtopped the morphological boundary of the caldera and traveled at least 15 km over the surrounding plain. The unit is subdivided into six members, named A through F in stratigraphic sequence, based upon their sedimentological characteristics. Isopachs and isopleths maps suggest a vent location in the Agnano plain. A volcano-tectonic collapse begun during the course of the eruption, took place along the faults of the northeastern sector of the resurgent block within the CFc, and generated the Agnano plain. The early erupted trachytic magma had a homogeneous alkali–trachytic composition, whereas later-erupted magma shows small-scale hetereogeneities. Trace elements and Sr-isotope compositions, indicate that two isotopically distinct magmas, one alkali–trachytic and the other trachytic, were tapped and partially mixed during the eruption. The small volume (1.2 km3 DRE) of erupted magma and the structural position of the vent suggest that the eruption was fed by a dyke intruded along a normal fault in the sector of the resurgent block under a tensional stress regime.

The structure and shape of collapses and resurgences is often controlled by pre-existing discontinuities, such as normal faults in rift zones. In order to study the role of extensional structures on collapse and resurgence, we used analogue models. Dry sand simulated the brittle crust; silicone, located at the base of the sand-pack, simulated magma. In the experiments, regional extension pre-dated collapse or resurgence, forming normal faults in a graben-like structure; the graben was filled with additional sand, simulating post-rift deposits. A piston then moved the silicone downward or upward, inducing collapse or resurgence within the previously deformed sand. The collapses showed an ellipticity (length of minor axis/length of major axis) between 0.8 and 0.9, with the major axis parallel to the extension direction. The partial reactivation of the pre-existing normal faults was observed during the development of the caldera reverse faults, which, conversely to what was expected (from experiments without pre-existing extension), became partly inward dipping. Resurgence showed an elongation of the uplifted part, with the main axis perpendicular to the extension direction. At depth, pre-existing normal faults were partly reactivated by the reverse faults formed during resurgence; these locally became outward dipping normal faults. A total reactivation of pre-existing faults was also observed during resurgence. The experiments suggest that the observed elongation of calderas and resurgences is the result of the reactivation of pre-existing structures during differential uplift. Such a reactivation is mainly related to the loss in the coefficient of friction of the sand. The results suggest that elliptic calderas and resurgences in nature may develop even from circular magma chambers.